Amelia Christnot is an Oglala Lakota, Kanien'kehá:ka Haudenosaunee and Métis Navy brat who settled in the wilds of Northern Maine. A member of the Indigenous Journalists Association, she considers herself another proud Maineiac.
There’s a widespread sentiment that forgiveness is necessary for personal peace. But is it? Adherents to such advice claim forgiveness is required for the healing of the aggrieved. However, there’s also an option of putting the offending party in the rear-view mirror and never thinking of them again. While the “you have to forgive everyone” […] More
After a married couple divorces or separates, does the in-laws owe a relationship to the ex? A woman wondering why she needs to meet her soon-to-be ex brother-in-law’s girlfriend turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit for feedback. Smithsonian-2020 asked: “AITA for not welcoming my brother-in-law’s new girlfriend (GF) into my life?” The […] More
Confronting a family member who routinely behaves badly can be difficult. But the reason many behave like entitled jerks is that everyone lets them. Being the person who calls them out is usually a solo venture, as people will tolerate the intolerable to “keep the piece.” A husband who confronted his mother-in-law over her rude […] More
True narcissists lack the ability to nurture their children because they don’t see them as individuals, only as extensions of themselves. Their children’s feelings and needs are neglected and criticized, while their own take center stage. Narcissists feel entitled and insist on getting their way. They exact compliance through control, manipulation, guilt, and shame. Their […] More
A prenuptial agreement is a “legal contract entered into before marriage that outlines the division of assets, property, and spousal support in case of divorce or death.” It protects individual assets—such as past or future inheritances, premarital assets, or business ownership—and can simplify the process of legal separation or divorce by predetermining the financial terms. […] More
After a divorce, the formerly married couple can maintain a friendship or become adversaries. How the relationship ended influences the future relationship a great deal. A divorce after infidelity? That rarely leads to friendship. A father turned to the “Am I The A**Hole” (AITAH) subReddit for feedback after his ex-wife asked him for a favor. […] More
Being anti-racism involves confronting racism whenever safely possible, especially among family and friends. Being loud when racism is perpetrated by strangers, but silent when it’s by close acquaintances is being complicit. But confronting racist behavior is likely to upset the person being racist and everyone enabling them by looking the other way every time. After […] More
To crate or not to crate? That is the question when traveling with pets. Some dogs, cats, or other critters do well in a vehicle while some can be a hazard, jumping around or otherwise distracting the driver. In the latter case, the pet needs to crated or contained to one area somehow. Safety before […] More
Infidelity may be a betrayal of just the person’s spouse, but it does still affect others. Children of the cheater are, of course, the most disrupted, but that doesn’t mean extended family isn’t also impacted. When a sibling, aunt, uncle, or cousin leaves their spouse—a member of the family—to marry their affair partner, the extended […] More
Sexual compatibility is something many couples view as integral to a successful relationship. But is incompatibility a reason to end a marriage? A husband getting pushback on his decision to divorce his wife turned to the “Am I The A**Hole” (AITAH) subReddit for feedback. Similar to AITA, the AITAH subReddit allows posters to ask for […] More
Infidelity in a marriage is usually a death knell for the relationship if it’s discovered. After the split, does the aggrieved spouse still owe any loyalty to the cheater? A spouse whose wife cheated on him turned to the “Am I The A**Hole” (AITAH) subReddit for feedback. Similar to AITA, the AITAH subReddit allows posters […] More
Weddings really can bring out the worst in people. Some people see the event as a reason to air all of their petty grievances or letting jealousy sabotage the day. A woman turned to the “Am I The A**hole” (AITA) subReddit for feedback after a conflict with her sister over their weddings. Goldencain1410 asked: “AITA […] More
